National Signing Day is two weeks away and Florida’s coaches are on the road recruiting relentlessly.

They’ve had in-home visits with several prospects in January and hosted many of them on officials, with more scheduled to file in this weekend and next.

Things are beginning to take shape with the remaining targets at positions of need.

Fullback Kennard Swanson (Lakeland, Fla./Lake Gibson) visited UF this past weekend and is already in Florida’s egg basket, but he may not hatch this month or even this year. Swanson doesn’t have a committable-offer because of his academics, but the coaches are going to save a scholarship for him according to his coach.

Although his grades from last semester were good enough for him to qualify, he still has to retake his SAT this Saturday and his ACT on Feb. 9. The Gators will likely allow Swanson to sign on Feb. 6 and then wait on his test scores and final semester grades in June. If they’re suffice, Swanson will report this summer with the incoming freshmen. If he doesn’t qualify, he’ll have to attend either a prep school or junior college before coming to UF.

The Gators are still in contention for South Plantation running back Alex Collins, who was leaning toward Florida immediately following his official visit on Dec. 14. However, he visited Miami last weekend and heads to Arkansas this Friday for an official. Those two schools have been gaining steam this month and are now the favorites for Collins. UF will be in the picture until the end, but he appears to be an unlikely addition for the Gators.

Florida is looking to land a sixth receiver and the three targets are James Clark (New Smyrna Beach), Ryan Timmons (Frankfort, Ky./Franklin) and FSU commit Levonte Whitfield (Orlando, Fla./Jones). Clark unofficially visited UF on Jan. 6 and will return on his dime again on Feb. 2. He has also visited Clemson, Nebraska, Northwestern and Purdue and will take his final official to Ohio State this weekend. Timmons was offered by the Gators on Sunday and is expected to officially visit UF on Feb. 1. Kentucky currently has the edge for the in-state prospect. Whitfield will visit Florida this weekend after his indoor track meet in Gainesville, but the speedy wideout seems solid with the Seminoles.

Montravius Adams (Vienna, Ga./Dooly County), Jaynard Bostwick (Port Saint Lucie, Fla./West Centennial) and JUCO Ole Miss commit Jarran Reed (Scooba East Mississippi C.C.) are the defensive tackles left on Florida’s board. Adams visited UF on Jan. 5, but he’s still considered a long shot for Florida. After officials this month to Alabama and Miami, the Gators get the final visit for Bostwick on Feb. 1. They have a great chance to land him as well as Reed, who took his first official to Florida on Jan. 11 and is not solid with the Rebels contrary to his comments in the media. Reed just visited North Carolina and will see Kentucky this weekend followed by Ole Miss on Feb. 1.

Elijah Daniel (Avon, Ind.) is no longer in play for UF because of his grades and recent commitment to Ole Miss, while Robert Nkdemiche (Loganville, Ga./Grayson) remains a heavy lean to Ole Miss despite his official visit to Florida. That leaves the Gators with Auburn commit Tashawn Bower (Somerville, N.J./Immaculata), who officially visited UF last weekend, as the only viable option at defensive end. Unfortunately for the Gators, he still has trips to LSU and Auburn. If the coaches can’t bring Bower on board, look for them to go after an under-the-radar or JUCO recruit.

With James Hearns out of Florida’s class, the Gators have room to take back former commit Quinton Powell (Daytona Beach Mainland). On Tuesday, Powell announced he was done with visits and will decide between Southern Cal and Florida on National Signing Day. Powell told The Sun he’s “50-50” between the two schools, but UF hasn’t put the full-court press on him just yet.

Finally, the Gators are hoping to take another cornerback and USC commit Jalen Ramsey (Brentwood, Tenn./Brentwood Academy) could fulfill their wishes. He officially visited Southern Cal this past weekend, but the firing of defensive backs coach Marvin Sanders on Tuesday is a big blow for the Trojans. Ramsey’s father, Lamont, has said his son wanted to play for Sanders, so Florida’s chances at flipping the five-star prospect are now better than ever. Ramsey will host coaches from USC, UF and FSU on in-home visits over the next two weeks and then make a final decision. Immokalee cornerback Mackensie Alexendar is still considering a possible unofficial visit to Florida this month, but the Gators don’t have much of a shot because they can’t offer him immediate playing time or a scholarship for his brother, Mackenro.

Florida currently has 27 commits in its 2013 class and room for six more members. For the commitment list, click HERE.

About This Blog

If Zach Abolverdi had a dollar for every time his last name was mispronounced … you just made him richer. Born in Orlando but raised in Gainesville since 1990, he grew up around Florida football during the Steve Spurrier era. He once threw a perfect spiral under Spurrier’s watchful eye at his summer camp. The Head Ball Coach told him, “That’s a nice throw for a little man, but hold that ball by your ear.” The 8-year-old gunslinger replied, “I already know how to throw a football.” He didn’t appreciate the little man comment either. Zach is a Hearst Award winner and graduate of the University of Florida. He enjoys spending time with family, Denzel Washington movies and only about a dozen music artists, most of whom go by their real name. College football, the NFL, March Madness and LeBron James provide his sports fix.